Even though the (true) national unemployment rate is around 20%, there are still summer job openings available for high schoolers and college students. Have you landed one yet? Maybe a better question would be: Have you even started looking for one yet? If your answer to either question is "No!" then let me suggest an interesting resource for you: SummerJobs.com.
The site proclaims, "Surf for the Perfect Summer Job:
<p>SummerJobs.com offers summer jobs and seasonal staff positions with camps, amusement parks, resorts, national parks, hotels, environmental organizations and more." I wish I had had this kind of tool available to me when I was in high school. Of course, even if computers were available to me back then they would have been useless, since the invention of electricity was still years away.</p><p><br/></p><p>And, even though <a href="http://www.collegeview.com/admit/?p=1237" target="_blank">in a previous post</a> I noted what some experts view as a depressed summer-job market, SummerJobs.com offers reason for optimism. Lets take a look at what you'll find there. </p><p>It looks like SummerJobs.com makes at least some of its revenue from the companies that sign up to have their job openings posted there. Here are a few examples:</p><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/329"><img alt="Fund for Public Interest" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/fundpublicinterest.jpg" title="We need people like you—lots of people like you—to go out in communities across the country this summer and help make change happen. And you can earn money doing it!"></a></td><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2540"><img alt="NannyPro.com" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/NannyPro.jpg" title="If you're looking for a rewarding job, a flexible schedule, great pay, and love working with children - look no further! NannyPro.com is the premier online matchmaker for families seeking nannies and babysitters. We are currently seeking nannies and babysitters in your area for full- and part-time positions. "></a></td><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/970?ftrdEmp"><img alt="Tripp Lake Camp" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/Tripp_Lake_featured.jpg" title="Tripp Lake Camp"></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1991"><img alt="Camps Kenwood & Evergreen" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/kenwood.jpg" title="Camps Kenwood and Evergreen are brother-sister camps on Eagle Pond, nestled in the hills and woods of rural New Hampshire, just 2 hours from Boston. We specialize in life-changing experiences and growth through sports, arts, outdoor pursuits and most of all through the relationships created in our inclusive community."></a></td><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2295"><img alt="Care.com" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/care.jpg" title="As a member of the Care.com team you'll join folks who are committed to creating a positive, fast-paced working environment, in addition to making it easier for families to find reliable, trustworthy care for their loved ones."></a></td><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/327"><img alt="Camp Wahnee" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/Camp_Wahnee_featured.jpg" title="Camp Wahnee, in the Connecticut Berkshires, has a diverse program with a focus on sports. You will never meet so many good people in one place."></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2174"><img alt="Camp Lohikan" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/CampLohikan_featured.jpg" title="We have over 400 summer camp jobs available. Apply now for 2010!"></a></td><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2537"><img alt="Swim Quick" border="0" height="83" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/swimquick.gif" title="Teach Swimming at the Beach this summer with SwimQuick!" width="200"></a></td><td align="center"><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2519"><img alt="Vector Marketing" border="0" src="http://www.summerjobs.com/images/EmployerLogos/vector.jpg" title="Vector Marketing provides summer work opportunities for college students, recent high school graduates, individuals needing extra income and others. Vector representatives market Cutco products through a low key one-on-one approach, with the added benefits of excellent pay and flexible schedules."></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Plus, if your geographic location is convenient, you can take advantage of ads like this one:</p><p><em>Here at <strong><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2056" target="_blank">Universal Orlando®</a>,</strong> we do the extraordinary every day. We show our guests how to have a great time, all while having an unforgettable experience of our own. Join us this summer in a full-time, part-time or seasonal position, and you'll see that our jobs are far from ordinary. Apply online at <a href="http://www.universalorlandojobs.com/" target="_blank">www.UniversalOrlandoJobs.com</a> and be part of the thrills and excitement!</em></p><p>The best feature of the site, in my opinion, is the search engine. You can search by job type, location, employer, and some other criteria, all of which are explained in the helpful search instructions. For example, I searched for "camp counselor" and got these "12 of 500" results:</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><thead><tr><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=1">Job Title</a></th><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=2" target="_blank">Employer</a></th><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=3" target="_blank">Location</a></th><th>Industry</th><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=4" target="_blank">Date Posted</a></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5723" target="_blank" title="General Camp Counselor">General Camp Counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Camping, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5728" target="_blank" title="Music - summer camp counselor">Music - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">04/30/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5714" target="_blank" title="Baseball - summer camp counselor">Baseball - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Camping, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">04/30/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5715" target="_blank" title="Soccer - summer camp counselor">Soccer - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Camping, Childcare, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5713" target="_blank" title="Ceramics - summer camp counselor">Ceramics - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5711" target="_blank" title="LACROSSE Summer Camp Counselor Needed">LACROSSE Summer Camp Counselor Needed</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Camping, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5719" target="_blank" title="Photography - summer camp counselor">Photography - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5718" target="_blank" title="Journalism - summer camp counselor">Journalism - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">04/30/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5733" target="_blank" title="Teach Woodworking - summer camp counselor">Teach Woodworking - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5725" target="_blank" title="Flag Football - summer camp counselor">Flag Football - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Camping, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/07/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5712" target="_blank" title="Secretarial - summer camp counselor">Secretarial - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Administrative and Support Services, Camping</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5741" target="_blank" title="Roller Hockey - summer camp counselor">Roller Hockey - summer camp counselor</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/498" target="_blank" title="View Camp Takajo's profile">Camp Takajo</a></td><td>Naples, ME, United States</td><td>Camping, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/17/2010</div></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then, I clicked the "By Location" option and got this:</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><thead><tr><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=1" target="_blank">Job Title</a></th><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=2" target="_blank">Employer</a></th><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=3" target="_blank">Location</a></th><th>Industry</th><th><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/search?Action=Search&SW=camp%20counselor&country=&state=&OB=4" target="_blank">Date Posted</a></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/3196" target="_blank" title="Camp Assistant at Kulik Lodge">Camp Assistant at Kulik Lodge</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1012" target="_blank" title="View Katmailand, Inc.'s profile">Katmailand, Inc.</a></td><td>Katmai National Park, AK, United States</td><td>Hotel, Resort or Lodge</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/3193" target="_blank" title="Camp Assistant at Brooks Lodge">Camp Assistant at Brooks Lodge</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1012" target="_blank" title="View Katmailand, Inc.'s profile">Katmailand, Inc.</a></td><td>Katmai National Park, AK, United States</td><td>Agriculture, Forestry, & Fishing, Building and Grounds Maintenance, Camping, Customer Service and Call Center, Entertainment, Environmental, Hospitality/Tourism, Hotel, Resort or Lodge, National Park, Other, Restaurant and Food Service, Sports and Recreation, Transportation and Warehousing</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/8428" target="_blank" title="Manager / Guide at Grosvenor Lodge">Manager / Guide at Grosvenor Lodge</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1012" target="_blank" title="View Katmailand, Inc.'s profile">Katmailand, Inc.</a></td><td>Katmai National Park, AK, United States</td><td>Agriculture, Forestry, & Fishing, Camping, Entertainment, Environmental, Hospitality/Tourism, Hotel, Resort or Lodge, Management, National Park, Other, Restaurant and Food Service, Retail/Wholesale, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/2039" target="_blank" title="Camp Cook / Lodge Keeper at Grosvenor Lodge">Camp Cook / Lodge Keeper at Grosvenor Lodge</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1012" target="_blank" title="View Katmailand, Inc.'s profile">Katmailand, Inc.</a></td><td>Katmai National Park, AK, United States</td><td>Agriculture, Forestry, & Fishing, Camping, Entertainment, Environmental, Hospitality/Tourism, Hotel, Resort or Lodge, Management, National Park, Other, Restaurant and Food Service, Retail/Wholesale, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5976" target="_blank" title="Camp Director - Tempe">Camp Director - Tempe</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1508" target="_blank" title="View iD Tech Camp's profile">iD Tech Camp</a></td><td>Arizona State University, AZ, United States</td><td>Camping, Childcare, Computers, Software, Education, Training, and Library, Health and Safety, Hospitality/Tourism</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5956" target="_blank" title="Camp Instructor - Tempe">Camp Instructor - Tempe</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1508" target="_blank" title="View iD Tech Camp's profile">iD Tech Camp</a></td><td>Arizona State University, AZ, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping, Computers, Hardware, Computers, Software, Education, Training, and Library, Health and Safety</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5975" target="_blank" title="Camp Director - California">Camp Director - California</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1508" target="_blank" title="View iD Tech Camp's profile">iD Tech Camp</a></td><td>Multiple Locations, CA, United States</td><td>Camping, Childcare, Computers, Software, Education, Training, and Library, Health and Safety, Hospitality/Tourism</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5953" target="_blank" title="Camp Instructor - California">Camp Instructor - California</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1508" target="_blank" title="View iD Tech Camp's profile">iD Tech Camp</a></td><td>Multiple Locations, CA, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping, Computers, Hardware, Computers, Software, Education, Training, and Library, Health and Safety</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/8063" target="_blank" title="Creative Writing Instructor - A Great Job for Writers and/or Teachers - $600/wk - Lekha School of Creative Writing">Creative Writing Instructor - A Great Job for Writers and/or Teachers - $600/wk - Lekha School of Creative Writing</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2386" target="_blank" title="View Lekha School of Creative Writing - Lekha Publishers LLC.'s profile">Lekha School of Creative Writing - Lekha Publishers LLC.</a></td><td>San Jose, CA, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Childcare, Education, Training, and Library, Other, Publishing</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">05/03/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/8059" target="_blank" title="Summer Camp Staff">Summer Camp Staff</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/2381" target="_blank" title="View Colorado Mountain Ranch's profile">Colorado Mountain Ranch</a></td><td>Boulder - Gold Hill, CO, United States</td><td>Camping, Childcare, Education, Training, and Library, Environmental, Nonprofit, Sports and Recreation</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">04/30/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5994" target="_blank" title="Camp Director - Colorado">Camp Director - Colorado</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1508" target="_blank" title="View iD Tech Camp's profile">iD Tech Camp</a></td><td>Colorado State University & University of Denver, CO, United States</td><td>Camping, Childcare, Computers, Software, Education, Training, and Library, Health and Safety, Hospitality/Tourism</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/details/5958" target="_blank" title="Camp Instructor - Colorado">Camp Instructor - Colorado</a></td><td><a href="http://www.summerjobs.com/do/profile/1508" target="_blank" title="View iD Tech Camp's profile">iD Tech Camp</a></td><td>Colorado State University & University of Denver, CO, United States</td><td>Arts, Entertainment, and Media, Camping, Computers, Hardware, Computers, Software, Education, Training, and Library, Health and Safety</td><td><div style="text-align: center;">03/15/2010</div></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Again, these are the first dozen of 500 listings. This is a quite helpful search process, which can really drill down to specifics for you.</p><p>Bottom line: SummerJobs.com appears ready and able to deliver a summer job for <em>you</em>. Go get one!</p><p style="text-align: center;">**********</p><p style="text-align: left;">Be sure to check out all my admissions-related articles and book reviews at <a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/" target="_blank">College Confidential</a>.</p>
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